Bullied Canadian teen’s suicide sparks online outrage

There's outrage in Canada following the suicide of a bullied teenager. Next, he Canadian province of British Columbia is cracking down on "hipsters". And Google launches a virtual museum devoted to 20th century history.

Bullied Canadian teen’s suicide sparks online outrage

There has been an outpouring of emotion on the web following the suicide of Canadian teen Amanda Todd, who killed herself last Thursday after suffering years of abuse online. The 15 year old had posted a video to YouTube at the beginning of September recounting her ordeal and explaining how her life became a living nightmare when, at the age of twelve, she was tricked into posing topless by a webcam stalker who ended up circulating the comprising pictures on the net, making sure they were sent to Amanda’s friends.

People laughed at her, called her names, the teenager moved schools several times but the torture and persecution followed her through the web. As the months went by, Amanda could no longer bear it, after sinking into depression, alcohol and drugs, she decided to end her life.

Her death has sent shock waves across social networks in Canada. A Facebook page has been set up in her memory, drawing some 230 000 members in a short space of time. Web users are encouraged to dress in pink or blue over the next few days to pay tribute to Amanda and condemn cyber bullying.

Politicians have also taken up the issue. The premier of British Colombia, Christy Clark, has posted a video online announcing her determination to combat this phenomenon.

British Columbia government cracking down on "hipsters"

The British Columbia government in Canada is running a somewhat unusual campaign on university campuses and public transport to encourage young people to seek employment. The local authorities have decided to get their messages across by running ads in buses and trains with slogans like “hipster is not a real job”, or by making fun of graduates who hope to win the lottery so as to avoid working. The initiative has sparked lively reaction on social networks.

The web soon became awash with posts criticizing the campaign’s choice of words. With numerous Twitter users saying it is insulting and stigmatizes young people, most of whom are trying to fight unemployment and are actively looking for work. Others say they do not understand the point of the campaign which is financed by tax payers, nor who the campaign is actually targeting as the word “hipster” is deemed to be something of a blanket term.

But the local authorities are having none of it despite the online outcry. The campaign continues, and also on the Internet with a website highlighting fifty or so trades that will be in demand in the Canadian province in the future. The jobs are showcased in videos presented by the campaign’s “non-hipster” spokespersons, Brian and Vivianna. The stated aim of the site is to help young people discover new careers, and facilitate their transition to working life.

Google launches "Cultural Institute" chronicling 20th century

Google is hoping to bring it’s cutting edge technologies to the cultural sector with its new platform “Cultural Institute”, a digital visual archive of landmark twentieth century events and personalities. Web users have access to over 6 million documents, including photos, , texts and films covering the Holocaust, Nelson Mandela and the May 1968 protests in France. The archives will be regularly updated with fresh content.

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